See's Famous Old Time Candies® was founded in California in 1921. See's is beloved throughout the western US, and especially in California, which is dotted with scores of their charming candy shops. Enter any shop, and feel like you're stepping back in time. The impossibly polite staff are dressed in pristine old-fashioned black and white uniforms that evoke a warm sense of nostalgia. Dozens of delectable See's candies are displayed in cases like jewels, and myriad beautifully wrapped gift boxes are there for your choosing. Plus the best part of the experience, as See's devotees know, is receiving your complimentary piece of See's candy after you make your purchase.

What makes See's Candies so scrumptious? According to the company, "to produce the best possible boxed chocolates, we at See's acquire the choicest and finest grade raw ingredients from all over the world. Making over 100 varieties of candies, we have maintained our reputation for excellence by strict adherence to See's 'Quality Without Compromise®' motto."

I can attest that their chocolate is among the finest available, as I have been savoring them my entire life. The first time I went to a See's candy shop, I was about 10 years old. I was so smitten, that I thought, Forget being a doctor or a lawyer when I grow up. I want to work in a See's candy shop. Well, that didn't pan out, but living in California is the next best thing. And since you can order See's candies online, you can enjoy them no matter where you live.

Now for the really exciting part: One lucky Food Blogga winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to See's candies! Not sure whether you want creme filled Easter eggs, assorted dark chocolates, or nuts and chews? Then I'd recommend ordering a custom mix so you can select the confections that are nearest and dearesnt to your heart. Here's what you have to do to win:

Just tell me why you'd like to win the See's Candies gift certificate. Please respond by the end of the day, Monday, March 23, 2009. That's it.

With the help of random.org, 1 winner will be randomly selected and announced in a future post, so please check back. The give-away is open to all Food Blogga readers wherever you live. The winner will need to provide her or his real name and mailing address. Don't have a blog? Just leave an active email address where you can be reached. Good luck, everybody!

I am obsessed with See's! But, alas I live all the way in NYC, and it is snowing here on the first day of spring. See's would definitely uplift my mood. Reminds me of my childhood. Great giveaway, btw.

Hi Susan.. I have the most fond memories of See's candies. Growing up my mom always made it an event to go to the See's candy store. I think we always had suckers tucked away in a drawer somewhere. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if my mom still has some stored in a cookie jar. :)

I would love to make an Easter basket for my mom with See's candy the way she did for us every year. She decorated them so lovely.. the center of the basket always had one of the special chocolate eggs in a box with the cellophane window. She used to slice a small sliver for us every day to make it last. :)

Hi Susan! Don't enter me in the giveaway... I'm afraid if I started with See's I wouldn't be able to stop ;) Just wanted to let you know I made your mango, raisin, cashew bread and it is fantastic! I blogged about it today. No more banana bread for me :)

Hi...I would love to win the See's candy to send to my cousing, Susan, who has MS and See's candies were the only thing she wanted for Christmas this year...she got them! Becky at kyladog1_1999@yahoo.com Thank you! I love your site! Keep it coming!

Oh, how I remember See's. I grew up in California also, and I always remember looking in the store longingly whenever we went to the mall. A box of See's was a huge treat at our house. Do they still make the chocolate covered toffee wafers?

See's candies were the first chocolates my husband and I shared after we became an item. We don't buy them for ourselves at all but every time we pass a store we look at each other with twinkles in our eyes.

I'd like to win on the 23rd so I can give this present to this lady at work who live for chocolates. She calls them breakfast of champions and her birthday is on the 24th of March. It would be a very nice surpise. Plus, don't forget that See's not only have the best Nuts and Chew selections, they also have the melt-in-your mouth peanut brittle. You can't stop at just one!! That's why, I would like to win. I'll share.

I love the answer above me-so cute! I love See's candies, I used to live right down the street from one. Sadly I'm on the east coast where we don't have the convenience of walking into one on whim or to satisfy a craving. I would love to have some See's candies- it brings back great memories.

I recently won 2 box of my choice elsewhere. I chose the no-sugar dark chocolate almond and walnuts. I can vouch for their deliciousness. I've been savoring every biteful! The winner is in for a treat!

Living in upstate NY, I have to order See's for myself now, but there was a time, living in SF, when I could walk to the nearest See's shop and choose milk chocolate vanilla creams whenever I wanted. See's puhlease!

Because I have never won anything. LOL I just wanted to post something different. I haven't had them either, but have heard plenty about them... we have Peterbrook Chocolate here... lots of mmmmmers there!

I'm convinced that every office in California have their own specific rules regarding Sees candies. Most of my group like, no love, the same kind (bordeaux) and they have all these very polite rules regarding who gets to pick first and such. Lucky me, I'm into the nut chews lately figuring there is enough protein in there to count them as a snack and not a candy. Clever! If I'm the lucky duck in this contest, that custom box will contain plenty of the candies so adored by my partners in crime, um, co-workers.

I always got Sees candy to put in my daughter's Easter basket, even if it was only one bunny. Now I am on Social Security and cannot afford to get any Sees for her or my grandchildren. I would love to be able to do that this year.

My close friend and I used to share moments eating See's in her sunny, yellow kitchen. I have fond memories of those moments. Now she just had her first child, and I'm going to visit for a while. It would be a great thing to start our celebration and catching-up.

Several years ago Sees has a christmas cart at the mall and I had the pleasure to try these tasty treats and they were fabulous!! My daughters birthday is on Easter Sunday this year and I would love to put a box in her basket to enjoy !

I would love to win this gift certificate for See's candies! As you suggested, I would use it to order a custom mix to perfectly match our specific sweet tooth - or maybe that should be sweet teeth! LOL! I would save it for dessert the next time our extended family gets together. What a sweet treat! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Only tried See's for the first time a couple weeks ago and they're the kind of thing you have to savor one by one which completely enhances the candy eating experience. The perfect indulgence and I'd love to be able to enjoy one at the end of the day. And yes...I said one...it goes along with making it an experience to enjoy. :)

As a child I lived very close to the Mall in Redondo beach that had a See's Candy shop. Oh what memories! My sisters and I always had a decorated See's Easter egg in our basket. Another memory is the free sample while my Mom was buying her chocolates.See's are the best chocolates!

I was given a box of See's candies a few years ago as a gift, and they were so yummy! It's been a rough year for the hubby & me, so I'd like to cuddle up with him on the couch, and feed each other some chocolates. =)

I was born and raised in California, but have sadly moved east to New York. See's candies are the only snack food that I have to find when I visit home. It is always a pleasant treat to pick up my 3 or 4 boxes in the airport

Oh....See's.....so many memories....I can remember going into the shopping mall as a child and getting the suckers....yum! On my recent trip out I had planned to get a box of chocolates at a See's shop and ended up too busy with family....but low and behold when I was at the airport about to board and head back to SC...they have a shop in the airport...I was able to bring back little pops for all the peeps at work. I would so love to win this. Thanks for the opportunty.

I was born in San Jose, CA and had See's Candy growing up. When my family moved up to Seattle 30 years ago I was devastated to find that they didn't have See's Candy, but shortly after that they opened a store.